20 Questions: Tom Wood – Northampton flanker

What went wrong against Leicester?
We embarrassed ourselves. It was billed as a big game and we failed to deliver. Our defence was porous, our continuity in attack was awful and we were well beaten.
Backs to the wall now?
To a degree, but we’ve always come out fighting. We’ve stewed on that last performance and we’re not rolling over. We’ve still got an opportunity to win something this year.
Enjoying a full season after injury?
Absolutely brilliant. I’d forgotten what it was like playing week-in, week-out. Although the body’s taken a bit of a pasting, I’m not complaining. It’s been great.
Your damaged foot okay now?
Getting better and better in terms of being able to tolerate the volume of training. I still have the odd setback with soreness but generally I’ve made a lot of gains.
Back in an England shirt as well now?
It’s been really enjoyable with both Northampton and England, which has been very refreshing after what was a dark season last year.
Lions ambitions?
Of course, I’d love to be there. You couldn’t pick a bad back row from the Six Nations combos, so it will boil down to balance and what the coaches are looking for.
How do you chill out?
All sorts of things. I’ve got a young family – two kids, aged four and 18 months – who keep me on my toes and I’m also into fishing, golf, shooting and archery.
Shooting?
Yes. I teamed up with a guy who sponsors Saints – UK Gunworks is his firm – and he’s given me loads of advice on rifles and ballistics. I’m trying to learn how it all works.
Get into country sports in New Zealand?
I’d always been that way inclined and New Zealand was where I got my foot in the door. I worked on a farm and it was pretty rural where I was.
Fancy shooting at the Olympics?
(Laughs) We’ll see. I do shooting and archery as hobbies at the moment but I do take them quite seriously and I’m competitive by nature, so you never know.
Play any other sports at school?
Everything. Cricket, athletics, football… you name it. I got to Coventry Boys standard in football but rugby was my game.
Boyhood rugby idols?
Danny Grewcock and Neil Back. They went to the same school and club as me in Coventry – Woodlands and Barkers Butts – so I looked up to them.
Best places visited?
Between Queenstown and Wanaka in New Zealand is stunningly beautiful. And Newquay in Cornwall is one of my favourite spots. I love surfing and went there a lot as a kid.
Favourite food and drink?
My mum’s Sunday roast. Favourite tipple is a strawberry Brothers cider… it’s pretty sickly if you have too many but refreshing with a barbecue on a nice day.
Most prized possession?
My bow. I do a lot of archery and it’s a pretty good one.
Most annoying teammate?
Tom May, because of his tweets. It’s just motivational, self-help stuff, probably plagiarised out of whatever book he’s reading at the time. Excruciating stuff.
Best and worst dressed Saints men?
James Wilson is worst. It’s a bit strange seeing a south island Kiwi in such tight jeans and the lads have been giving him stick. Best dressed is me, especially in my camouflage gear!
Changes you’d make in rugby?
Bring back proper rucking. If you’re on the wrong side you get stamped on and if you don’t want to be stamped on, get out! I’d also change the fact they change the rules every year, and I’d probably play without a referee. Things would work themselves out.
Pet hates?
Headline writers. They’ve rubbed me up the wrong way lately. You give a considered answer to a question and someone just plasters a mainstream tabloid load of crap on the top of it. Oh… and bad driving, too.
Something about Jim Mallinder we don’t know?
He’s getting his air rifle serviced because he’s got a pigeon problem in his back garden. I know that because I was in the gun shop when he was in there.